ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: ball · hide · foot · can · saw · roll · bear · fork

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. roll — a list
  3. bear — the animal
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. ball — a dance
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. can — to be able to
  8. saw — the tool
  9. fork — in a road
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. roll — a cake
  14. foot — a measure
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. bear — the animal
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. saw — the tool
  22. can — a tin
  23. ball — a great time
  24. can — a tin

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com